Balancing carriage for conveying heavy goods



H. FOLLAND ET AL BALANCING CARRIAGE FOR CONVEYING HEAVY GOODS Aug. 28, 1923;.

Filed Aug. 28 1922 Patented Au 28, 1923.

sir

HENRY roLL'Ann, or BLACKPILL, NEAR swnnsna, m) e'onsnnvon, WA ES.

- I resent Jenn oLIvEn rowan, or

-BALANCING cannmsnron CGNVEYING HEAVY Goons.

-Application filed august 28, 1922. 7 SeriaIlQfo. 534,757.

1 \Vales, have invented new and useful Improvement-s' in Balancing Carriages for Conveying Heavy Goods, oi'fwhich the fol lowing is a specification, I I Y Our invention relates to, appliances for use in the manipulation and transportation of heavy goods and is especially useful for conveying. annealing pots employed in the annealing of plates or sheets of iron or steel, and the appliances are of the kind in which a carriageof girder-like construction is supported towards its centre, one end haying means for supporting the goods to'be conveyed whilstthe other is provided with a movable counterbalance weight.

The object" of our invention consists in a construction in which when thecarriage is raised with or without the load, the same is automatically counterbalanced and in which heavy manual labour is rendered unw necessary whilst enabling the "loads to be handled with the minimum mechanical power.

According to the inventiomthe carriage or the like is supported in the neighbour hood of thecentre of its length upon a pair of wheels, and the end on which the load issupported rests upon the ground. The opposite end of 1 the carriage has movably mounted thereon a counterbalance weight a, which is so supported that it is able to travel along the carriage towards the centre'thereof under its own weight. at appropriate times. H I

The carriage is'provided in the neigh hourhood of its-centre with a suspension shaft around a wheel or drum or i s equivalent On which passes one ormore turns-of a rope, chain,-ca'ble or other flexible mem her by means of which the carriage is hoisted. to the wheel or drum and after passing round the latter tothe extent of one or more turns it is attached to the hook of an overhead crane or the like;

The suspension shaft is geared in any and residents Blackpill,

The chain or the like is fixed at one end suitable manner to )the rmoving counter- Weight so that the .preliminary raising movement of the cable or its. equlvalent will act'to move the counterwei htto such a position on the carriage't-hat the load will be automatically counterbalancedl' Prefei ably the arrangement, comprises a pivotal lever'monnted towardsthe load end of the carriage which, when this end of the carriage leaves the ground operates a pawl 00- operating with a ratchet wheel associated preferably with the suspensionsha ft to lock the said shaft and consequently the counterbalance weight in the counterbalancing position v on j said ,carriage. Y Ilhe V ratchet wheel may however be mounted on a lay shaft. -Means may be; provided'for manually ope-rating the-ratchet and pawl mocha-1 nism. For instance the pivotal lever at the load end of the carriage may connected by a rod or the like to an operating" lever at the opposite end.

The carriage-is preferablyprovided at the endcopposite to that which supports the V 7 load with a'wheel or. pair of wheels or the like serving, to limit the turning movement of the girder aboutits' point of suspension.

In order that the invention may be readily understood,reference is made to the accompanying drawings which show, by way ofexample, the preferred construction accord-i ing to the invention; l i Figure l isa side view of the-apparatus showing the same in the position in which thecarr ia'ge is'just aboutto he hoisted.

I Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1.

,The apparatus comprises a carriage built up'of two parallel beams or girders 10,10,

spaced apart as shown in Figurefl and con-V nected together in any suitable'manner at one or both-ends as shownifor example at 11 by diagonal cross bracing. At or near the centre of the carriage is'fixed a framework 12 the lower portionot which supports a pair of wheels 13 on which the ap-,

paratus rests when on the ground. This 'frame-workalso serves to support suspensionrshaft 14 hereafter referred to; .The lower endof'the carriage is provided with :a' fixed platform or the like 15 on which the loadis adapted to be supported, 5

whilst its opposite end is provided 'with depending brackets 16 which support wheels or rollers 17 serving to limit the movement v of the carriage about the point of suspension. 18 is a counterbalance weight provided 2 with wheels or rollers 19 whichare adapted to run along the inner side of the beams 10," ;as shown in i igure 2. The counterhal: ance weight 18 is attached to an endless chain or cable 20 which runs over a wheel or grooved pulley 21 at the upper end of the 10 carriage and over a second grooved pulley or the like 22 mounted on shaft 23-supported in brackets 2 adjacent the frame- A, work 12. The counterbalance *weight is so mounted however that itis' abl'eto move un der its own weight towards the centre of th 1 carriage when the same is inclined.

The'suspenison shaft l l which is supported by the framework 12 carries a wheel or druni'25 preferably located centrally of the 20 carriage, and 26 is a chain or cable one end of which is fixed to the wheel drum and after passing round said'wheel to the extent of one or more turns passes upw'ardly and is attached to the hook of an overhead crane (not shown). By this means when the hoisting gear is set in motion,;the.pull on the chain or the like 26 first causes the 'suspen sion shaft to rotate before the carriage is actually raised from the ground. The sus- 30 pension shaft 14- has keyed thereto a grooved pulley or chain wheel 7 over which passes a chain or the like 28. The chain or the like also passes over a grooved pulley or chain wheel 29 keyed to the shaft 28.

5 One side of the drum or wheel 25 carries a ratchet wheel 30.wi'th which co-operates. a pawl 31 by means of which therotation of the suspension shaft -14 is controlled. To-

5 wards the load end of the carriage is mounted a pivotal two armed lever 32, the lower end of which carries a wheel 'orrol'ler' 33,

whilst the opposite end of said lever is pivotally connected to a rod 3a which extends to the opposite end of' the carriage and is at- -5 tached to a pivotal operating lever 35 mountedon a bracket 36 in the form of a quad-ranti The rod 34 is connected at 37 to the pawl 31 and is provided in the course of i its length with swivellingyoke member 38 rotatably connected to the portion 3 of the rod and is resiliently connectedto the portion 34", so that the pawl 31 may be moved to its engaging position even when the lever 32 is in the position" shown in Figure 1. I V V ll hen the load isin position on the platform 15, and the latter is resting upon the ground, the carriage is supported towards 1 its centre by the wheels 13, whilst the wheels so or rollers 1'? are raised from the ground, the counter-balance weight having moved along the carriage towards the centre thereof; If now the hoisting gear be set in operation, the preliminary pull on the cable or its equivalent 26 rotates the suspension shaft 14: in a clockwise direction (Figure 1), the

pawl 31 being held out of engagement with,

which the load end of the carriage rests.

The clockwise rotation of the suspension shaft 1% drives the shaft 23 through the 7 'chain '28. V

shaft '23 causes the counterbalance weight to The rotation thus given to the move from the centreof the carriage towards the upper end, and-said weight continues, to move in' this direction until it reaches apoint at which tnc load mun lower end of; the

this counterbalancing takes place theflower or loan end of the carrlage rises from' the ground 'and the rocking of the pivotal leverv 32' moves the pawl 81 into engagement with the ratchet wheel 30 'wherby further rota tion of the suspension shaft 1 and the shaft 23 which drives the endless chain 20 isfstopped. The continued operationso'f the hoisting gear now raises the carriage bodily and the latter will be effectively counterbalanced, the craneor other tackle being operated to move or transmit the load to the re-' quired position. e

lVhen the carriage is again lowered by the hoisting and lowering gear the wheels 13 first come into contact with the ground'and then the wheel or rollers 17,- a'nd finallythe load end of the carriage is gradually lowered to the ground thereby rocking the piv otal lever and disengaging the pawl 31 from the ratchet wheel 30. The cable or the like of the hoisting gear is paid out for a snort length thereof and during this paying out the counterbalance weight moves carriage is counterbalanced." As soon as" under its own weight along the inclined carriage towards the centre thereof.

The apparatus may be applied in a'simi- I "construction and arrangement'o f partsinay be modified without departing from the prin ciple of the lnvention as set forth 1n the ap-- member, "means between .asaid suspension member and said movable weight for 10- cating the latter to counterbalancetheload,

and means for automatically locking said weight in the counterbalancing position, for

*"posite end in a raised position, a movable weight slidably mounted on said carriage and adapted to move towards thecentre thereof under its own weight, a suspension member rotatably mounted on said carriage,

a flexible hauling member passing round and attached to said suspension member, means between said suspension member and the movable weight for moving the latter from the centre towards one end of the car- 4 riage, and means operated by the movement of the loaded end of the carriage for retaining the movable weight in the counterbalancing position when the hauling member 1s operated, for the purposes set forth.

3. An automatically balancing, transporting and conveying carriage for heavy goods, comprising a longitudinal carriage, a pair of wheels supporting said carriage towards its centre, a load carrying platform at one end of said carriage, means for supporting the opposite end of the carriage in a raised position, a counterbalancing weight mounted to move in guides longitudinally of the carriage, a suspension member consisting of a rotatable drum mounted towards the cen-' tre of said carriage, a cable wound round and attached to said drum, an endless flexible member attached to said weight, supporting means for said flexible member adapted to permit movement thereof in a longitudinal plane with respect to said carriage, means associated with said suspension mem ber for moving said weight towards the raised end of said carriage when the cable is tensioned, and means for arresting the movement of said weight when it reaches the counterbalancing position.

4:. An automatically balancing transporting and conveying carriage for heavy goods, comprising a longitudinal carriage, a load carrying platform at one end of said car riage, a movable weight mounted on guides towards the opposite end of said carriage, a hauling member attached to said carriage in the neighbourhoodcof its centre, and means operated by the pull on the hauling member for automatically moving the weight to the counerbalancing position before said cars riage with its load is raised from the ground, for the purposes set forth.

5. An automatically balancing, transporting and conveying carriage for heavy goods, comprising a longitudinal carriage, a load carrying platform at one endof said carriage, a movable weight mounted on guides towards the opposite end of said carriage,

a haulingmember attachedto said carriage 1n the neighbourhood of 1ts centre, means operated by the preliminary pull on' the hauling member for moving the weight to a position to counterbalance the load, and" means operated by the rising of the load carrying end of the carriage for retaining tion. I

6. An-automatically balancing, transport ing and conveying carriage for heavy goods, comprising a longitudinal carriage, a load carrying platform at one end of said carriage, a movable weight mounted on guides towards the opposite end of said carriage, a hauling member attached to said carriage said wieght in-the counterbalancing' p0si-- in the neighbourhood of its centre, means operated by the preliminary pull on the hauling member for moving the weight toa position to counterbalancethe load, and a rocking member mounted atthe load end of the carriage adapted to be rocked by the rising of the load end of said carriage from the ground to operate retaining means for loclring the weight in the counterbalancing position, for the pusposes set forth.v

7. Au automatically balancing, transportingandconveying carriage for heavy goods, comprising a longitudinal carriage provided with a wheeled support towards its centre, a load carrying platformv at one end of said carriage, means at the opposite end of said carriage for supporting said end in the raised position, a movable weight mounted on-vguides towards the raised end of said carriage, a rotatable supporting member attached to said carriage, a hauling member passing round and attached to said supporting member. means connected to said rotatable supporting member for moving the weight towards the raised end of the carriagerwhen said member isrotated, and a locking member adapted to be brought into it operation to arrest the rotation of said supporting member when, the counterbalance weight reaches a position to raise the load end of the carriage off the ground, for the purposes set forth. l

8. An automaticallybalancing, transporting and conveying carriage for heavy goods, comprising a longitudinal carriage, sup-porting wheels towardsthe centre of said carriageadapted to support the carriage in an inclined position when resting upon the ground, a load carrying platform at the lower end of said carriageg'a movable weight mounted on guides towards the opposite end of said carriage, a suspension'shaft mounted on said carriage, a drum on said shaft. a cable wound round and attached to said drum. an endless band attached tosaid weight, rotatable supporting wheels for said band, means operated by the rotation of Saidsuspension shaft for causing the weight to be moved through the endless band towards the raised endof said carriage and locking means for retaining said suspension shaft against rotation when the weight reaches aposition to counterbalance the load, for the purposes set forth.

'9; An automatically balancing, transporting and conveyingcarriage for heavy goods, comp-rising. a longitudinal; carriage, supporting wheels towards the centre of said can 'iage adapted to support the carriage in an inclined position when resting upon the ground, a load carrying platform at the lower end of saidcarriage, a movable weight mounted on guides towards the opposite end of said carriage, a suspension shaft mounted on said carriage, a drum on said shaft, a cable 'ti ound round and attached to said drum, an endless band attached to said weight, rotatable supporting wheels for said bane, means operated by the rotation of said suspension shaft for causing the weight to he moved through the endless band towards the raised end of said carriage, a ratchet wheel mounted on'said suspension shaft, pawl co-operating with said ratchet wheel, and a pivotal lever mounted towards the load end of said carriage adapted, when said load end is raised from the groundto be rocked to operate the pawlv and secure the suspension shaft against further rotation.

10. An automatically balancing, transporting and conveying carriage for heavy goods, comprising a longitudinal carriage,

supporting wheels towards the centre of said carriage adapted to support the carriage in an inclined position when resting upon. the ground, a load carrying platform at the lower end of said carriage, a movable weight mounted on guides towards the opposite end of said carriage, a suspension shaft mounted on said carriage, a drum on said; 'a cablc wound round and attachedto said drum, an endless band attached to said weight, rotatable supporting wheels for saidband, means operated by the rotation of'said suspension shaft for causing the weight to be moyed through the endless band towards the raised end of said carriage, a ratchet wheel on said suspension shaft, a pawl cooperating with said ratchet wheel, apivotal two-armed lever mounted toward the load. end of said carriage, a connecting rod attached to said pawl at one end and. to one arm of said lever at the opposite end, and a whecl'onthe opposite arm of saidtwo armed lever contacting with the ground, the arrangement being such that:

the two armed lever is rocked when the load end of the carriage rises from the ground and moves said pawl into engagement with said ratchet wheelto prevent further rota-' tion' of the suspension shaft, for the pur-'.

poses set forth.

11. An automatically balancing, trans: porting and conveying carriage for heavy goods, comprising a longitudinalcarriage, supporting wheels towards the centre of said carriage adapted to sup-port the carriagein.

the raised end of said carriage,locking' means-for retaining said suspension shaft against rotation when the weight reaches a position to counterbalance the load, and means for manually disengaging said lock ing means, for the purposes set forth.

12. A balancing carriage for the trans portation and conveyance of heavy goods, comprising a longitudinal carriage, means at one end of said carriage for supporting the same in a raised position, a load carrying platform at the lower end of said can riage, pulleys at the raised end and in the neighbourhood of the centre of said carriage, an endless band passing over saidpidleys, a weight slidably mounted in. guidesponsaid carriage and attached to said endless band, a suspension shaftmounted towards the centre of said carriage, a hauling cable wound round and attached tosaid shaft, driving means between said suspension shaft and one of said pulleys, locking means for securing said suspension shaft against rotation when the Weight has bee-n moved by the rotation of the suspension shaft to a position to counterbalance the load. and a movable member at the load 'end of the carriage adapted to operate said locking means when the weight reaches a position to counterbal ance the load for the purposes" set forth,

HENRY FOLLANDQ JOHN OLIVER POWELL, 

